Cerebral Palsy

Maryland Cerebral Palsy Lawyers & Birth Injury Attorneys

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you may be facing a lifetime of expensive therapies and medications. If the cerebral palsy was caused by a birth injury due to medical error or malpractice, you can and should seek compensation for it and for future medical expenses. In Maryland, skilled, caring cerebral palsy lawyers at Nash & Associates LLC are available to discuss your options for legal recourse.

What is cerebral palsy, though? It is a general term describing a set of disorders that impair bodily control or movement. Biologically, cerebral palsy is caused by damage to or improper development of the part of the brain that controls motor function, thus impairing the brain’s ability to control the body.

Symptoms of cerebral palsy generally appear within the first few years of life and do not change in degree or severity over time. They can include:

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, contact the Maryland cerebral palsy attorneys at Nash & Associates LLC, to explore avenues for compensation.

How does cerebral palsy occur?

Cerebral palsy is generally the result of brain injury or damage around the time of birth, though it can also be acquired later in life. The causes of cerebral palsy can include the following:

• Rh incompatibility – When a mother’s blood has Rh incompatibility with the blood of her fetus, the mother’s immune system may attack the fetus, resulting in brain damage. Rh incompatibility can be discovered with a simple blood test, usually performed when a couple is expecting a child. It does not usually cause complications in a mother’s first pregnancy, and can be prevented in later pregnancies through the injection of a serum after each birth.
• Oxygen deprivation – Oxygen shortage near the time of birth may result in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a kind of brain damage.
• Infection during pregnancy – Some infections, including rubella, toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus can affect both mother and child in a pregnancy. They can damage the nervous system of the fetus, resulting in cerebral palsy.
• Jaundice – Untreated jaundice in newborn infants can result in cerebral palsy. Jaundice can be treated with phototherapy, and if necessary, blood transfusion.
• Head injury – Head injuries in children can cause brain damage, which may lead to cerebral palsy. To prevent this, ensure that your child sits in a car seat when traveling in a car, and wears a helmet when riding a bike.

Treatment and support for cerebral palsy

A variety of therapies, surgeries and medications can be used to address symptoms of cerebral palsy. Medication can be used to lessen muscle spasms and reduce seizures. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can be used to aid sufferers with physical impairments, and help them learn to live with their disabilities. Family therapy can prepare and educate parents to take better care of a child with cerebral palsy.

Contact Maryland cerebral palsy lawyers

Cerebral palsy can affect the life of your child and your family forever. It can result in sustained medical costs that you should not have to bear alone. Contact the premier Maryland cerebral palsy attorneys at Nash & Associates LLC today for an initial consultation.